Searching for interior design inspiration is common, but it’s easy to make mistakes that can make your home look tacky. Some items may be dragging down your space without you realizing it. Keep reading to see eye-opening examples of what not to do in order to ensure your house doesn’t feel sad and tasteless!
Futons Are Way Outdated
Futons can be practical in certain situations, especially for those with limited space or a tight budget. However, if you’re aiming to elevate your space and avoid a tacky look, consider replacing the futon. They can sometimes appear cheap and lack comfort. Opt for something more attractive and comfortable to enhance the overall aesthetic of your room.
Live, Laugh, Love Signs Are Just Cheesy and Cliche
The slogan “live, laugh, love” has been incredibly trendy, making its way onto signs, pillows, and even tattoos. While the message is uplifting, as home decor, it can sometimes appear tacky and overused. Inspirational catchphrases, when too generic, can come off as cheesy. For a more chic and personalized home, consider opting for unique and personal artwork rather than a basic slogan that has been used countless times.
Plastic Storage Can Potentially Look Cheap
Storage space is a common challenge, and maintaining an organized and stylish home can be tough when there’s limited room. While cheap plastic bins and drawers are readily available, opting for more aesthetically pleasing storage solutions is advisable. Cheap plastic containers can give a space a less sophisticated and more childlike appearance, which doesn’t align with the goals of home decor. Investing in quality storage options can contribute to a more polished and refined look.
Untidy Cables Are an Eyesore
Cables are often overlooked as decor elements, but when left in plain sight, they can unintentionally become part of your home decor – and not in a good way. Exposed cables can create a messy and chaotic look. To maintain a clean and organized appearance, consider using cable tidies to wrap them up or hiding them under furniture. This way, your cables are neatly concealed, contributing to a more polished and intentional aesthetic in your space.
Shag Rugs Should Stay in the 70s
The 1960s and 70s saw some eccentric interior decor trends, including shaggy rugs and carpets. While considered fun and groovy in that era, today they are seen as a design trend of the past. Shag rugs can give your living room a dated and tasteless appearance, which may not be the look you desire. If you’re seeking an upgrade, consider replacing the shag with a more modern rug for a refreshed and contemporary feel.
Plastic Couch Covers Ruin the Look of Your Couch
Plastic couch covers may seem like a practical choice to protect your valuable sofas, especially if you have pets or young kids. However, the downside is that they can instantly make your home look tacky and downgrade the appearance of your designer sofa, making it seem cheap. While the intention is to preserve the furniture, it’s often recommended to remove the plastic wrap and let your couch breathe for a more stylish and refined look in your home.
Ditch the DIY Furniture
DIY furniture projects can be a fun and personal way to decorate your house, adding unique touches that make it feel homey. However, using wooden crates or pallets to create furniture, like a TV console, may seem cool initially for a rustic vibe. However, pallets are often not reliable or sturdy, and they can give off an unfinished appearance, making your furniture look cheap. Many interior designers would recommend investing in real furniture for a more polished and durable look.
Kitchenware Racks Could Cause Your Kitchen to Appear Messy
In small kitchens with limited storage, creative solutions are essential. However, using racks to hang pans, pots, and kitchen utensils, while seeming like a practical space-saving idea, can often result in a crowded and untidy look. It may give off a cheap appearance instead of the organized and polished feel you’d want in a well-designed kitchen. Exploring alternative storage solutions or decluttering may be more effective in achieving a clean and stylish kitchen design.
Matching Couches and Curtains Are the Opposite of Trendy
The once-popular design trend of matching curtains and couches has become outdated in modern decor. However, there’s a simple way to update your space without replacing the entire couch. Instead of sticking to matching curtains, consider giving your window treatments an upgrade. Choose curtains in a solid color that complements your couch’s color scheme, offering a more contemporary and stylish look without the need for a costly new sofa.
Animal Skulls Are Not the Most Enticing Decor Items
Animal skulls, once a popular home decor item, have reached a point where they may be considered outdated. Whether acquired as a trophy from a hunting expedition or as a souvenir from a trip to the Southwest of America, they can make a space appear intimidating and out of place. As design trends evolve, opting for decor that feels more contemporary and harmonious with the overall aesthetic of the space might be a better choice.
French Country Style Is Out of Style
The French country style, a mix of rustic, antique, and soft decor items, has been a common home design trend over the years. While this style can appear feminine and pretty, it is considered too old-fashioned for current design trends. Embracing this style may make your home look outdated or even cheap, which may not be the best choice for those seeking a more modern and updated space. Consider exploring other design styles to bring a fresh and contemporary feel to your home.
Faux Plants Do Not Look Like Real Plants
Decorating your home with plants can be tricky. While natural plants require care and attention, filling your house with fake plants is often considered the wrong move by most interior designers. It can be challenging to find fake plants that look real, and more often than not, they may give your home a cheap appearance. Instead of resorting to artificial greenery, consider exploring low-maintenance real plants or incorporating other design elements that bring a fresh and natural vibe to your space.
Bold Statement Walls Can Be Overwhelming
If your style is bold, fun, and colorful, it’s natural to want your home to reflect your personality. However, there’s a fine line between making a bold statement and overdoing it. Using neon colors and busy wallpaper patterns, while attempting to infuse personality, can often overwhelm the space and dominate it in a gimmicky way. Striking a balance and incorporating vibrant elements thoughtfully can ensure your home feels fun and personalized without compromising the overall aesthetic.
All White Everything Can Really Look Stale
While white walls and white furniture can be classy and timeless, an all-white interior can risk looking sterile and low-budget. A space that is entirely white may lack warmth and comfort, creating an atmosphere that feels empty. To avoid this, consider incorporating pops of color through decor, accessories, or accent pieces. This addition of color can make your home appear more trendy and high-class while maintaining a comfortable and inviting atmosphere. Finding a balance between white elements and vibrant accents can create a more visually appealing and balanced design.
Mason Jars Should Be for Crafts Not Decor
Repurposing items, like mason jars, can be a creative and environmentally friendly approach to decorating. However, it’s important to consider the context and appropriateness of their display. Using mason jars for holidays, parties, or specific events can be fun and inventive. On the other hand, having them as the main decor year-round might not be the most fashionable choice and could potentially make your home look tacky and cheap. It’s crucial to strike a balance and use repurposed items thoughtfully within your overall design scheme.
Famous Artwork Reproductions Are Cheesy
Famous artworks by renowned artists like Monet, Van Gogh, and Picasso are universally recognized and celebrated. However, using replicas and copies of their work on various items such as pillows, tapestries, and poster paper might initially seem like a trendy idea. In reality, it can come across as kitschy and give your home a discount or mass-produced look. While appreciating art is commendable, incorporating it thoughtfully and selecting unique pieces can contribute to a more sophisticated and personalized home decor style.
One of a Kind Lamps Are Not the Best Look
Lighting plays a crucial role in shaping the look and feel of a home, but sometimes people focus on the wrong elements. Investing in bizarre or unconventional lamps can potentially make your home look less valuable and more tacky. Opting for well-designed and stylish lights can enhance the overall aesthetic of your living room, contributing to a beautiful and cohesive look. Thoughtful and attractive lighting choices can significantly elevate the ambiance and visual appeal of your space.
Blanket Ladders Are Not Really Practical
Blanket ladders, once a common decor item, are now considered outdated. While they may seem practical for keeping blankets easily accessible in the living room, they can make your space look out of style and gimmicky. If you’re aiming for a more expensive and sophisticated look in your home, consider removing blanket ladders and exploring other storage or display solutions for your blankets. This change can contribute to a more modern and streamlined appearance in your living space.
Ruffled Furniture Skirts Are Just a Bad Look
Ruffled furniture skirts, a trend from decades ago, are best avoided in modern decor. While some may have these lingering from the past, if you’re considering upgrading and redecorating, now is the time to reconsider. Ruffled skirts can make your home feel old-fashioned and out of touch with current design trends. Even if you appreciate vintage styles, there are more updated and stylish choices to consider for a refreshed and contemporary look in your living space.
Stay Clear of Glass Furniture
Glass furniture was particularly popular from the 1970s to the 1990s, with many homes featuring at least one piece made from it. However, glass tables and cabinets are considered outdated today. If you’re in the process of redecorating and replacing significant pieces of furniture, it’s advisable to avoid buying anything made of glass. Glass furniture can be high maintenance and prone to getting dirty quickly, and there are now more modern and durable materials available for contemporary home decor.
Small Rugs Can Make Your Space Look Awkward
Rugs can indeed be a great trick to enhance a room and achieve an interior designer’s dream look. However, selecting the right size is crucial. A well-chosen, appropriately sized rug can elevate your space. On the other hand, if you opt for a rug that is too small for the area, it can appear awkward and out of place. This is a common mistake that many people make when decorating their homes. Ensuring the rug is proportionate to the room size contributes to a more harmonious and well-designed space.
Chintz Wallpaper Is Too Old-Fashioned
Chintz wallpaper, which can be charming in Victorian museums or trendy hotels, might not be the best choice for your own home, according to interior designers. While it can be gorgeous, it has the potential to age your space and become overbearing over time. Using chintz wallpaper may limit your ability to add other elements to the room without creating clashes or an overcrowded look with too many colors or items. If you’re looking to create a timeless and versatile space, exploring alternative wallpaper styles might be a better option.
Shot Glasses as Decor Make Your Home Look Like a Dorm
While collections can be a fun way to keep souvenirs and memorabilia, some types of collections may appear tacky when on display. One example is a shot glass collection, which might be associated with college students’ apartments. However, as an adult, displaying shot glasses as decor may not be considered trendy. Instead of having them on display, consider keeping them tucked away or finding more sophisticated ways to showcase your collection if you still want to incorporate it into your decor.
Pallet Furniture Looks Unfinished
Using wooden boards and pallets for arts and crafts can be a fun DIY project. However, when it comes to creating furniture like coffee tables or side tables, it may not result in the most aesthetically pleasing pieces. Furniture made from pallets can often appear unfinished and cheap. If you prefer the look of wood, it’s advisable to opt for a solid wooden table that not only looks better but is also sturdier. Reserve wooden pallets for DIY projects rather than everyday furniture use to ensure a more polished and refined look in your home.
Time To Rethink That Overstuffed Recliner
It seems like you’re describing the humorous exaggerations often seen in parodies of recliners in TV shows and movies. These exaggerated versions often feature plush recliners with additional, impractical features like cup holders, built-in refrigerators, or even toilets. The portrayal highlights the idea that some recliners can be bulky and overly complicated. The description also humorously emphasizes the challenge of using the large levers on the side of these chairs to recline and extend the footrest.
Matching Couch Cushions Are Boring
When choosing pillows for your sofa, it’s advisable to avoid selecting pillows that are the same or too similar in color to the couch itself. Opting for pillows in the same color as the couch can result in a dull and monotonous look. The purpose of adding pillows to a sofa is to introduce pops of color and complement the furniture, not to blend in and wash out the overall aesthetic. Choosing pillows in contrasting or complementary colors can help create a more vibrant and visually appealing look for your sofa and the entire room.
Barn Doors Belong on Farms Rather Than Inside a Home
The trend of using barn doors as decorative doors in homes has gained popularity among homeowners. These doors are often placed in entryways or used as dividers between rooms. However, some consider it a bizarre trend that should be avoided. While it may impart a rustic and unique feel, others find barn doors to be bulky and jarring in certain settings. Trends can change quickly, so opting for a regular door may ensure that your home doesn’t suddenly have a door that falls out of style. Ultimately, design preferences vary, and individuals may choose doors based on their personal aesthetic and the overall style of their home.
Don’t Crowd Your Space With Too Many Trinkets
Having personal trinkets, antiques, or memorabilia in your home can add sentimental value and character. However, there’s a balance to strike, and having too much decor can be overwhelming. If every available surface is filled, it might be a sign that there’s an excess of items. Decor should enhance the room’s aesthetic, not clutter or overwhelm it. Consider decluttering and selectively displaying items to create a more visually appealing and balanced space. This allows each piece to stand out and contribute to the overall ambiance without overcrowding.
Tapestries Are for College Kids
Tapestries can indeed add a lively and fun flair to a room, especially on walls. However, it’s easy to overdo it, especially with tapestries that often feature multiple colors and busy patterns. While this can be suitable for certain styles, it might not convey the most sophisticated look for an adult home. Tastes and preferences evolve, and as you age, investing in actual wall art might be a more refined choice. Wall art can offer a more mature and curated appearance, contributing to a cohesive and sophisticated decor theme in your home.
Frame Your Posters if You’re Past Highschool
The style of covering walls entirely with taped-up posters might have been popular in teenage years, but as an adult, it can give a room a somewhat childish or inexpensive appearance. However, if you still want to decorate with posters featuring movies or bands, there’s a way to do it in a trendy and sophisticated manner. Framing the posters with solid white, gold, or black frames and properly hanging them on the wall can elevate the look and create a more polished and mature aesthetic in your space. This simple trick adds a touch of refinement to the poster display.
Color-Changing Lights Can Appear Juvenile
While it might be tempting to invest in lights that change to various colors for an upgrade, it’s important to consider the overall aesthetic. Lights that constantly change colors might not add elegance to your home and can be perceived as tacky. For creating mood lighting, a more refined approach would be to invest in a lamp with adjustable brightness or to light candles. The constant changing of LED colorful lights, resembling a nightclub atmosphere, might not contribute to a cozy and inviting home environment. Opting for more subtle and controlled lighting choices can enhance the overall sophistication of your space.
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